In 2013 the Vancouver Aquarium produced 11,750 Oregon spotted frog eggs, from which 5,891 tadpoles developed. Another 2,214 tadpoles were produced from a separate group of female frogs, bringing the total headcount to an amazing 8,105 tadpoles! That’s a lot of tadpoles; 4x the number of tadpoles released in 2012!

Release the Tadpoles!

Photo Credit: John Healey

In mid-April 2013 the tadpoles were released, which was about one week after hatching. It is around this time that tadpoles are able to swim freely and feed, which means they are ready to head out on their own. Of the 8,105 tadpoles, 44 were preserved to track genetic diversity and 25 will grow up at the Vancouver Aquarium. Three hundred and seventy-two went to live at the Greater Vancouver Zoo and 2,300 were released at Chapin Slough Nature Area. Five hundred tadpoles went to the University of British Columbia, and the remaining 4,864 were released in a wetland in the Aldergrove area. Thanks to the support of Earth Ranger kids campaigning to protect this awesome amphibian thousands of tadpoles have been released into the wild. Together we’re helping to bring this amphibian back from the brink of extinction!

Check out the video below to see how the tadpoles are released into the wild.